International cooperation: Global project “Russian Library” started with the signing of Memorandum between Russia and China

May 20, 2013, in the hall of the Rospechat, a ceremony of signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications (Russian Federation) and the General Administration of Press, Publishing, Radio, Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China took place. The document was signed under the Program of translation and publication of works of Russian and Chinese classical and modern literature.

Currently, there is an active process of development of humanitarian cooperation between Russia and China. In this process, the two parties, on a regular basis, take part in Beijing and Moscow International Book Fairs respectively, publish literary works of authors of the two countries, exchange of delegations of writers and publishers. China will be the first country to join the "Russian Library" project which implies the presentation to foreign readers of the best works of Russian classical and modern literature in modern translations. Russian readers, respectively, will have an opportunity to learn about the works of Chinese classical and modern literature. Large-scale collaborative project in the field of book publishing includes the publication of up to 125 volumes of literature of our country. In the future, the project will be joined by the United States and several other countries.

In accordance with the provisions of the signed Memorandum, the joint "Program of translation and publication of works of Russian and Chinese classical and modern literature" will be developed, which implies the translation and publication of the works that make part of historical and cultural heritage of our countries. Modern literature will not be left unattended either. Books will be issued both in the traditional paper form and digitally. New books in Russian and Chinese will certainly serve the mutual understanding between the Russian and Chinese peoples in the humanitarian sphere, contribute to the establishment of strong literary ties between Russia and China.